The James A. Garfield High School Concert Choir took center stage on January 28, 2025, for their Solo & Ensemble Concert at the Iva Walker Auditorium. Under the direction of Mr. Joel Logan, with support from Ms. Tori Mateos, student teacher from Kent State University, and Mr. John Eley, collaborative pianist, the evening showcased a blend of full-choir performances, soloists, and small ensembles, celebrating the hard work of students who had recently participated in the Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA) Solo & Ensemble contest.
“This is the first time we’ve done one of these,” Logan remarked in his introduction. “I am trying to do a few new things to get the choir performing a little bit more for the community.”
The concert opened with Natsu No Yo Wa (In the Summer Night), accompanied by Madelyn Smerkar on flute. Before the performance, Logan shared the poetic meaning behind the Japanese text: “The evening still seems present, but the dawn is here. To what region of the clouds has the wandering moon come home?” Though the winter weather outside was far from summery, Logan noted, “I thought the sentiment of the moon and that wandering about the dawn—it was a fitting, fitting piece for the winter here as well.”
As the evening continued, standout solo performances included Lillian Adair singing The Fields Are Full by Armstrong Gibbs, a piece she had taken to contest just days before. “I think the judge got Lily’s score wrong,” Logan joked. “But that’s maybe just because I’m a little biased. I’m very proud of her singing.”
Baritone Marshall Dahlen, a four-year choir member and senior, performed The Vagabond by Ralph Vaughan Williams. “A truly different piece than the other pieces you’re going to hear tonight,” Logan noted. Though Dahlen opted for a festival-style performance rather than a rating, Logan affirmed his skill: “You will hear here that he is well off to a great senior year in choir. “ thanking Dahlen for being in choir all four years of high school.
A special feature of the concert was the Super Singerz, a self-named ensemble performing Homeward Bound, a Class C contest piece. “They received a 1, a superior rating, at Solo & Ensemble,” Logan proudly announced. He also extended a special thanks to Ollie May for joining the group, despite not being in choir every day: “We forgive him for that—still glad that he is singing.”
The night concluded with For Good from the musical Wicked, arranged by Huff. Before the performance, Logan shared an amusing anecdote: “If you’ve seen the movie Wicked or you have seen the show—it has been out a couple of years now—this is principal Kathleen Kisabeth’s favorite from it. No pressure, everybody. No pressure.” He also emphasized the value of singing as a lifelong pursuit: “A community that sings together… stays together! Even principals can come and sing, and even student teachers who tell their band students she’s not a singer can sing.”
The High School Concert Choir featured a talented lineup across all voice sections: Sopranos: Lillian Adair, Diamond Dyson, Sierra Foy, Abygail Seiler*, Zoey Zimmerman Altos: Samantha Barker, Hallie Cebulla*, Remy Ewell, Madison Hayhurst, Alexis Phillips, Olivia Seaborn Tenor/Bass: Maximus Brewster, Jaxen Cushing, Marshall Dahlen*#, Wyatt Manista, Quinn Roborecki
(*Senior, # Four-Year Choir Member, + Super Singerz)
